Interviewing Ken Clendinning was the Australian Missionary News anchorman Mark Tronson. He first asked Ken how he was appointed the Head Chaplain for the Rugby League World Cup in 2008.
The response was so surprising and positive that it nearly blew Tronson away. The World Cup organisers themselves invited Clendinning to be chaplain, and when he met with them to find out more, he discovered something remarkable.
"Their key response centered on there are so many born-again Christians in Rugby League they felt a serious need to cater for these," Ken Clendinning explained. For example, the Fijian Rugby League squad bought with them two pastors who conducted devotions twice a day."
The World Cup Rugby League organisers arranged for Ken Clendinning to address all of the team's captains and managers together. This gave affirmation and recognition to Christian ministry within sports, and as a result, those few clubs who had only a marginal contact with Chaplaincy are now considerably more open.
Mark Tronson asked Ken Clendinning about two of the highlights of his many years of ministry with the Bulldogs.
He talked about the players and their families whose lives have been transformed to Christian faith, including those whose faith had slid. He recalled a very special memory during the 2004 season when he addressed the entire club after serious allegations had been made. This proved to be a key year of ministry. As an aside, the Bulldogs went on to win the premiership flag.
Ken Clendinning explained his pivotal role as Chairman of the Bulldogs Education Counselling and Rehabilitation committee and how he was named Clubman of the Year in 2009. His ministry involves life issues and relationships including marriage, and Ken oversees all counselling and referrals in these areas.
Being named the Bulldogs Clubman of the Year was not only a wonderful privilege he was also featured in the magazine Rugby League Week.
Finally Mark Tronson asked Ken Clendinning how his ministry experiences with the Bulldogs helped him in his former role as a Professor of Theology at Morling College, and now in leadership of NSW Baptist Ministers (ie, a Bishop's role).
Ken Clendinning's response was fascinating in that he noted that those in denominational leadership need to have their feet firmly planted in the grass roots, otherwise they would lose touch with the world around them.
"Moreover," he concluded, "We cannot ask others to get involved if we are not prepared to get our own hands engaged by doing it ourselves."
This 'Television on the Internet' live interview with Ken Clendinning can be found at Australian Missionary News and Safe Worlds